Russian ministry says Caspian Sea is shared regional resource

Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has highlighted the importance of the five-party cooperation format on the Caspian Sea, noting the sea is shared by all littoral states.

Natalia Terekhova, head of a department at the ministry, said the Caspian Sea is a unique water body and natural object with its own characteristics, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

She spoke during a panel session titled The Caspian Sea at a Crossroads: Science–Policy Dialogue on Sea Level Decline and Regional Action held as part of an international event marking World Environment Day.

According to her, one of the key features of the Caspian is the variability of its sea level, and the issue is reflected in the legal framework of the Tehran Convention.

She further noted that broader data exchange would improve assessment accuracy and support adaptation measures amid declining sea levels.

Terekhova also said a working group is important to facilitate data sharing and forecasting of sea level changes, calling it a potentially effective mechanism for cooperation among the five littoral states.

She added that a certain decline in sea level is currently being observed, although its scale and duration remain unclear, stressing the need for continued cooperation among all Caspian states.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov